Parents duties AND rights the great divide facing New Jersey voters

Let’s applaud Gloucester Township, NJ, for putting parents on notice that they’re on the hook for trouble their kids cause; too bad Jersey’s progressive statewide authorities are keen on shutting parents out of their children’s lives.Gloucester’s leaders had enough last year after a mob of 500 minors disrupted the annual festival last June, storming the fairgrounds, brawling and even trying to destroy a grocery store.The rampage yielded 11 arrests — and three injured cops.  Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Please provide a valid email address.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story.Now, when it comes to youthful recidivists — kids who keep getting arrested and convicted of crimes ranging from loitering to assault — the new law threatens fines or even jail time for parents who fail to discipline their children. This looks like a common-sense recognition that socialization is centered on the home: All the rules of civilized living — including the Golden Rule — start with the hand that rocks the cradle. Too bad Garden State education officials insist otherwise, aiming to keep parents in the dark about what goes on with their kids between the morning and afternoon bells. Outright denying parents’ rights to know what their kids are up to during the school day, including personal matters, Democrats have imposed state rules stating: “School district personnel are not required to notify a student’s parent or guardian of the student’s gender identity or expression.”Some districts even take that as license to encourage kids to start transitioning and help them hide it from their parents. As Jersey heads toward November’s election, it’s hard to think of a bigger division between the parties.For all that Democratic candidates pretend to moderation, their policies keep trying to toss parents’ values and rights overboard t...